Adjustable labeling-machine.



A. B. AINSWORTH. ADJUSTABLE LABELlNG MACHINE. a Y

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19, I913- 1,217,382. Patented Feb-27,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Ml/(wMM ATTORNEY wsms runs to. Pnnraurum, nus mu row. u c.

A. B. AINSWORTH.

ADJUSTABLE LABELING MACl'HNE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-19.1913- t Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

4 SHEETSq-SHEET' 2.

v W WITNESSES: 1 INVENTOR N I Q I I ATTORNEY r A. B. AINSWORTH. ADJUSTABLE LABELING MACHINE.

1 APPLICATION FILED APR. 19. l9l3.

Patented Feb. 27, 1917,

WITNESSES %M6QQIVW MWY m m H MJQID R 0N" P N T n w 4 m E W 4 M PNO'IO-LITNON WASNING you r; K.

A. B. Amswomu. ADJUSTABLE LABELING MACHINE.

.71 1 mm 7 2m ,e Fm du m4 I I I I I I I l lllln ax F1- WITNESSES} 'A TTORNEY UNITED STATES @FFIQE.

ARTHUR B. AINSWORTI-I, or LEAvENwoivrn, KANSAS, A-SSIGNOR TO B. M. HUGHES,

or NEVADA, MISSOURI.

ADJUSTABLE LABELING-MACHINE.

Application filed April 19, 1913. Serial No. 762,443. v

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR B. ArNswon'rn, a citizen of the-United States, residmg at Leavenworth, 1n the county of Leavcertain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Labeling-Machines, of which the L 'iimproved ad ustable labeling machine.

the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to machines for ap-' plying labels to parcels and seeks to provide a simple and effective form of machine in which all parts may be adjusted to conform to the variable and numerous sizes of parcels that may be required to be labeled.

The present invention is an improvement on the applicants former invention contained in the patent issued to him May 20, 1913, Number 1,062,267, and includes a portion of the mounting and feed mechanism of the label bed thereof butdiffers therefrom in other respects and seeks to provide an improved labeling machine which may be adjusted to receive and apply labels to various sizes of parcels. It is customary to apply labels to parcels as the parcels roll down a track-way, but by making the track-way admay be located closer together to shorten the working range of the machine for small pareels and lengthen the working range for large parcels and a further object of the invention is to so mount the paste appliers, brushes and stop cushion that they may be adjusted to a'position vertically that will correspond to the size of the parcel. A still further object of the invention is to con struct one of the trips that space the parcels on the track-way, so that it will be adjusted laterally as the track-way is adjusted.

With these and other objects in view, the

Specificationof Letters Patent.

; direction of arrow V Patented Feb. 27, 1917.

invention consists in the features of construct on, combinations and arrangements of the parts hereinafter set-forth, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawingiand more paronworth and State of Kansas, have lnvented cularly pointed outin the annexed claims.

In the drawlngs: Figure 1 1s a View in side elevation of the Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of a porl tion of the frame and a view in elevation of the stop cushion, taken on line wa of Fig. 1 looking in direction'of arrow I.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the machine taken on line 5-4) of Fig. 4 looking in'thedirection ofiarrow II.

Fig. A is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view of certain parts of the machine taken on line 0-0 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of arrow III.

All figures between F igs.;6 and 23 inclus1ve are enlarged and are of the same scale.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the windlass and crank of the delivery board in elevation looking from the delivery-board end of machine.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the delivery board Windlass with the crank removed and illustrating the ratchet wheel and pawl plier and a fragmentary view of the frame taken on line e@ of Fig. 3 looking in the Fig. 11 is a longitudinal vertical section of the preferred form of paste vessel and paste applier taken on line-f,f of Fig. 10 looking in the direction of arrow VI.

Fig. 12 is a vertical. cross section of a modifiedform of paste vessel and paste applier taken on line g-g of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of arrow VII.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal vertical section of the modified form of paste vessel and paste applier taken on line 7L-7t of Fig. 12 looking in the direction of arrow VIII.

Fig. 14: is a vertical longitudinal section of the label bed taken on line z'-'i of Fig. 15 looking in the direction of arrow IX.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the label bed.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the supporting table of the label bed.

Fig. 17 is an elevation of the supporting table of the label bed.

Fig. 18 is an angular plan View of the label end rest.

Fig. 19 is an angular elevation of the label end rest.

Fig. 20 is a view in vertical cross section illustrating one of the track-way screws and a fragment of the frame taken on line j-j of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of arrow X.

Fig. 21 is a view invertical cross section of the label roller taken on line k7n of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of arrow XI.

Fig. .22 is a horizontal cross section of one of the brush frames and a brush taken on line ZZ of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of arrow XII.

Fig. 23 is a horizontal cross section of one of the brush frames and a brush head taken on line mm of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of arrow XIII.

Fig. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the adjustable sections of the standards.

The side frame members 1 and 2 are supported by standards 3 which are provided with adjustable sections 1 for the purpose of changing the elevation and incline of the track-way hereinafter described.

Along the inner side of the upper edge of the side member 1 is fixed the track-way supporting member 5 to which is secured in fixed position the beveled rail 6, while trackway supporting member 7 is screw threaded to and supported by screws 8 and has fixed thereon rail 9. The screws 8 pass through sidemembers 1 and 2 and are supported thereby, one end of each of the screws projecting laterally outward from member 2, and having secured thereto a crank arm 10, to which is pivoted the connecting rods 11 by which the screws may be rotated and the rail 9 moved toward or'away from the rail 6 to diminish or increase the width of the-track-way to accommodate the various sizes of parcels that it is desired to label and the weight of rods 11 looks screws 8 against undesirable movement.

The side frame members 1 and 2 are secured together by cross ties 12, delivery table 13, table 1 1 and by various rods and connections that are secured to both members. The table 14: is provided as a convenient receptacle from which to feed the machine with parcels, and is preferably provided along the outer edge with the angle 15 to prevent them from slipping or rolling from the table.

The stand is provided for the operator to stand on, the chair 17 to sit on and the foot rest 18 as a rest for the feet, but these are no part of the invention. The table 14: is preferably level and the end of rail 9 is bent at 92 toa right angle to overlap the angle shaped bar 15 so that when the rail is moved near to rail 6 to accommodate small parcels there will be no separation of the rail and the angle shaped bar and the table will be completely surrounded by safe guard as the angle shaped bar 15, excepting the entrance to the track-way.

The side frame members 1 and 2, track supporting members 5 and 7 and rails 6 and 9 are preferably divided in separate sections A, B and C, to avoid dismantling in moving it.

To each section is secured all the parts be longing thereto so that rigid connection or the sections is not required. From table ll to D the track-way 6, 9 has a slight incline downward and slots are cut in 5, 6 and in 7 9 respectively in which are located trip arms 20, which are free to swing from position shown in full lines to position shown in dotted lines Fig. 3.

Arms 20 are pivoted on rod 21 and so proportioned that the ends 22 will always when free fall by gravity and rest on the cross rod 23. Ends 2% of arms 20 are beveled at an angle to the body of the arm and the point extends upward for some distance when the body is lying down within the rails as indicated in full lines Fig. 3. As one of arms 20 is in the movable members 7, 9 it will move laterally with the members when they are adjusted to change the width of the track-way. As each parcel moves along the track-way 6, 9 from table 14: it will engage the bevel 2iand swing the arms 22 up until the parcel passes over the points 25 after which the arms 20, 22 will assume the angle of the track-way and the parcel will hold ends 22 down and prevent the advance of a second parcel until the first passes over from the ends 22, when the second parcel will be free to advance. It will be understood from this that the parcels will be spaced apart by trips 20 to prevent their con tact with each other as they pass through the machine.

From D to F the track-way 6, 9 has a more abrupt decline to add momentum to the parcel so that it may overcome the friction of applying the paste and labels and pass more rapidly through the machine, while from F to G the incline is more gentle because all that is required after passing F is to maintain the speed gained from D to F. A further advantage of a gentle incline from F to G lies in the fact that more room is provided forother appliances contained in section B.

Between D and F preferably mounted in guides 26 is a paste vessel 27 containing the lss paste applier 28, the purpose of the slides being to move the vessel containing the paste applier closer to or farther from the labels 29 asthe smaller the parcel the closer the applier must be to the label and the larger the parcel the farther it must be from the label in order to apply the paste on the portion of the parcel that will strike the label. The paste vessel lies between side members 1 and 2 is practically rectangular in shape on the lower side and circular on the upper side with reference to the incline, has an open top and is provided with flanges 30 to engage the slides 26, and slots 31 in which rest the shaft 32 of the paste applier 28. The paste applier 28 is cylindrical in shape, is mounted on shaft 32 and is provided with pins 33 by which it is rotated as the parcel strikes the pins in its passage along the track-way 6, 9, the pins applying paste to the parcel as they contact therewith.

The paste applier 28 may be as long as shown in the drawings Fig. 10, or it may be shorter, to apply paste to a certain width on the parcel, it being obvious that one applier may be lifted from the vessel 27 and one of a different length inserted, the slots 31 be ing provided for this purpose. The spring 34 is provided to engage the pins 33 and stop the paste applier with one of the pins 33 in an upright position so that the next parcel will contact therewith and receive paste and revolve the paste applier.

In Figs. 12 and 13 a modified form of paste vessel 35 is illustrated which may be used, the flanges 36 in this form resting in the slots 37 of members 5 and 6. This form of vessel is removed and another inserted with each adjustment of the rail 9. The spring 38 is provided in this form to stop the paste applier in the desired position as described in the preferred form.

Between the paste vessel 27 and the labels 29, above the track-way 6, 9 is located the paste spreading brush 39 supported by the brush head 40 which is vertically adjustable in slots 41 of the frame 42 and held at the desired elevation by bolts 43 the latter passing through the ends of brush head 40 and slots 44 of the frame 42 and being provided with thumb nuts 45. The frame 42 projects some distance beyond side member 1 to allow the labeling of bottles and the like which have a long projecting neck, and is secured to side members 1 and 2 by bolts 46 which slide in slots 47 to allow the brush to be moved to or from the labels 29 so that the position of the brush may correspond with the position of the paste applier 28, this adjustment being necessary to accommodate parcels of large or small dimensions.

The label bed 48 is supported by the label supporting bed 50, is concaved longitudinally near the central portion thereof, the concave ending at the lower end without elevates the. end of the labels 29 between the track-way 6 and 9 and allows the body of the labels to curve down and out of the way of the second paste vessel 49 which is of the same construction as the paste vessel 27 hereinbefore described, excepting that the flange 30 conforms to the angle F, E while the flanges 30 of paste vessel 27 conforms to the angle of the track-way 6, 9 from D to F.

A further advantage of the reversed curve and particular shape of the upper surface of label bed 48 lies in the fact that the labels may be piled thereon with the first ends of the labels forming an angle acute toper pendicular as shown, the top label of the pile always protruding over the ends of the ones underneath, so that the vessel with the paste applied thereto can contact only with the topmost label. The labels are held in angular piles as described by pins 81, which are secured in plate 82 which in turn is mounted on slides 83 and may be adjusted to fit the desired length of labels and place the upper end thereof in position to contact with the parcel. Slots 84 are provided in label bed 48 to allow the pins 81 to be moved longitudinally of the bed until contact with the label is made.

Paste vessel 49 contains a paste applier which is a duplicate of applier 28 and the operation is the same.

The vessel 49 may be adjusted to the de- J sired distance from the labels 29 to suit the I size of the parcels by simply sliding flanges thereof in guides 26, it being the object for the second appliance to apply paste to the parcel to engage the second or last end of the label. From the foregoing description it will be understood that various sizes of parcels may be labeled and that labels may be applied which reach only a part of the way around the parcel, or that the labels may reach all the way around and the ends overlap, and vessel 28 may be so located as to apply the paste to the portion of the parcel which strikes the first end of the label,

while vessel 49 may be so located as to apply the paste to the portion of the vessel that will receive the last or second end of the label, also if the labels overlap the paste will be applied from vessel 49 to the outside of the first end of the label, in order to paste it to the inner side of the last end of the label.

The label bed 48 rests on supporting table 50 the pins 51 engaging the slots 52 to hold the bed in the required position. Table 50 is supported on swinging links 53 which allow it to move upward and longitudinally from the gravity of weight 54 acting through lever 55. To regulate the upward move ment of table 50 and label bed 48 the roller 56 is provided which is journaled in the side frames 1 and 2 the roller contacting with the top-most label and regulating the movement as the labels are moved therefrom and applied to the parcels.

Holes 57 are provided to receive the shaft 58 of the roller 56 when shorter labels than those illustrated are used and the roller members are divided and consist of plural parts each secured to shaft 58 by screws 88 which may be slackened and the members moved along the shaft and secured in the required place to suit the size of the label.

It will be understood that the end 88 of label bed l8 must be elevated between the rail (3 and 9 in order to apply all the labels placed thereon to the parcels and when the rail Sis adjusted or moved toward the rail 6, the bed 18 is removed and one of duplicate construction excepting narrower in width is placed on the table 430.

Brush 60 is provided to smooth and press the labels on the parcels to make a complete contact and more thoroughly wrap them around and paste them thereto. '1 he brush being supported by brush head 61 which projects outwardly through the slots 62 of the angle frame 63 and the head is clamped to frame 63 at the desired elevation to suit the size of the parcels by bolts G l.

The frame 63 is secured to sit e members 1 and 2 by bolts which slide in slots 66 so that the brush may he moved closer to or farther from the paste vessel 49 to accommodate the size of the parcel that it is desired to label.

The standards 3 are provided with slots 89 while the adjustable'sections a are pro vided with corresponding slots 90, the sections being held to the standards by bolts 91 so that by slackening the bolts the machinemay be leveled on uneven surfaces, or the angle of the incline changed after which the bolts are tightened so that the sections will support the machine in the adjusted position.

Cushion 6'? has arms 68 projecting upward therefrom through which is inserted rod 69, the rod also passes through the sides of'the frame 70, which is bolted to side members 1 and 2 by bolts 71 sliding in slots 72 so that the cushion may be adjusted to contact with the parcel at any desired point, but preferably at the place where the ends of the label overlap in the long labels and on the last or second end of short labels.

Cushion 67 is constructed with sufficient weight so that the inertia thereof will check the speed of the parcel when it strikes the cushion, and light enough in weight so that it will swing to the position indicated in dotted lines Fig. 3 and allow the parcel to pass under the cushion from the machine.

Frames 63, and 85, as well as frame 42 the arch of which is herein before described, are arched outward to one side as shown to allow projections on the ends of parcels as the neck of a bottle and the like to descend the track-way (3, 9 without contact therewith.

Some forms of parcels are easily broken and must be removed from the delivery table 13 by hand and for this reason holes 86 are provided for the purpose of inserting therein a rod 87 shown in dotted lines of Fig. 2 so that the cushion 67 will not swing as in Fig. 3 dotted lines, and the parcels may be removed by hand from the delivery table as they strike the cushion and stop.

Slots 72 slant downward from the outer end of the frame so that as the cushion is moved closer to the. brush (it) it will be lowered nearer the tracleway. This slant of slot "2 automatically adjusts the cushion 67 to the requireddistance above the delivery ta" le. It will be understood that the smaller the parcel the closer the cushion 67 must be to the label bed as and the closer it must be to delivery table 13, and these slots are so constructed as to bring the cushion to the required elevation when the position longitudinally upon themeinbers 1 and 2 is ad justed.

To the lower and outward end of the delivery table 13 is secured by hinges 73 swinging delivery board 74, the outer end of which is supported by ropes 75 from the Windlass 76, the Windlass being rotated by crank 77 and held in the desired position by ratchet wheel 78 and pawl 79. The swinging delivery board provides a convenient means of automatically discharging the parcels direct without handling from the machine to a re ceiving vessel as the car 80 and the like.

it will be understood from the foregoing that the parcels placed on the upper end of the track-way will roll down along the trackway to the delivery board and over and from the lower end of the delivery board. The trip arms 22, 24 and 25 will space the parcels to prevent contact one with the other as they descend the track-way. The parcels will contact with cylindrical paste applier 2S and receive paste therefrom, at the same time the parcel will contact with one of pins 33 and turn the paste applier so that it will have suflicient paste to supply the neXt earcel. The brush 39 will-spread the paste around the parcel and the portion of the parcel to which the paste has been applied will strike the end of one of the labels 29 and by the adhesion of the paste pick up the topmost label from the label bed 18, pulling it from under the roller 56 and the rolling of the parcel will wrap the label around the parcel. As the label is pulled from under roller 56 the weight 54- will lift the label bed 48- the thickness of the label that has been removed therefrom. As the parcel passes over the paste vessel 4-9 it gathers paste therefrom at the position on the parcel where the last end of the label'is to be applied. The parcel then passes under the brush 60 which wraps and smooths the label around and on the parcel after which the parcel strikes cushion 67, the position of which is preferably adjusted so that the last end of the label will strike the cushion anld more securely press the label to the parce In order to accomplish the foregoing 0perations successively the pasters, paste brushes and cushion must be adjustably slidable along the track-way and the brushes and cushion must be vertically adjustable as herein before described.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details as set forth without departure from the essentials of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of, an inclined trackway, angle shaped standards supporting said track-way, adjustable sections forming part of said standards, slots in said standards, slots in said section, and bolts in said slots whereby the elevation and the horizontal angle of said track-way may be changed and adjusted. and means supported by said standards whereby labels may be applied to parcels as said parcels descend said track-way.

2. The combination of, an inclined trackway, a frame supporting said track-way, said trackway constructed to guide parcels, a table connected to the upper end of said trackway, a right angle shaped bar with one flange thereof lying flat upon said table and the remaining flange projecting upward and lying along the outer edge of said table and forming a continuous side board on three sides of and a part of the fourth side of said table, and means supported by said frame whereby labels are applied to said parcels as said parcels descend said trackg:

way.

3. The combination of, rails forming an inclined track-way for parcels, arms pivoted in said track-way near the upper end thereof, said arms normally lying within and arms normally lying parallel with the rails of and within said track-way, lugs on the upper end of said arms whereby said arms are oscillated by parcels descending said trackway and said parcels are separated and spaced, and means spaced along said tracle way to apply labels to parcels as said par cels descend said track-way.

5. The combination of, an inclined trackway, a table at the upper end of said trackway, a movable rail on said track-way, an angle shaped bar lying along the outer edge of said table, the end of said movable rail bent to overlap said angle shaped. bar and completely surround the upper side of said table excepting the opening to said trackway, and means to apply labels to parcels as they descend said track-way.

6. The combination of, an'inclined trackway, a movable rail on said track-way, spacing trip arms near the upper end of said track-way, one of said trip arms pivoted in said movable rail and arranged to be automatically adjusted laterally therewith, and means to apply paste to parcels as they descend said track-way.

7 The combination of, an inclined trackway, said track-way constructed to guide parcels as said parcels descend said trackway, a label supplying bed underneath said track-way, a paste vessel underneath said trackway and between said label bed and the upper end of said trackway, laterally extending flanges on the ends of said paste vessel, guides under said tracloway, said flanges extending into and resting in said guides and supporting said paste vessel, and a paste applier in said vessel comprising a roller with pins projecting therefrom, said pins arranged to contact with parcels descending said trackway and revolve said paste applier, said pins arranged to apply paste to said parcels by contact therewith.

8. The combination of, an inclined trackway, a label supplying bed under said trackway, a paste vessel under said track-way, and between said label bed and the upper end of said trackway, a cylindrical paste aplier in said vessel, pins projecting from aid paste applier, a lock spring success1vely parallel with the rails of said track-way engaging said pins whereby the parcel may angle lugs projecting upward on the upper end of said arms, whereby thelower end of successively contact with said pins and receive paste from said pins and said applier said arms are raised by said parcels as said? may be rotated by said parcel contacting parcels pass over said lugs and said lugs; with said pins and said spring may look gain their normal position as said parcels said applier in a fixed position after each pass to. the lower end of said arms therebyjapplication of paste to a parcel.

checking the speed of said parcels spacing 9. The combination of, an inclined tracksaid parcels and preventing contact one with the other, and means to apply labels to said parcels as said parcels descend said track way.

4. The combination of, rails forming an inclined track-way, arms pivoted in said ay, a label supplying bed under said trackay, a paste applier in said track-way and track-way near the upper end thereof, saidjustable along said track-way whereby the 130 applier may apply paste to the parcels as said parcels descend said track-way and the brush may spread said paste on said parcels and the pasted portions of said parcel may contact with a label from said label bed to apply the label to said parcel.

10. The combination of, an inclined trackway, a label supplier under said track-way, a paste applier in said ti-ack\vay and between said label supplier and the upper end of said incline, a brush above said trackway, said brush vertically adjustable to acconnnodate parcels of difierent sizes, slots in the side members of the frame supporting said track-way, and bolts in said slots where by the brush may be clamped in the desired position along the track-way.

11. The combination of, an inclined trackway, means to apply paste to parcels as they descend said track-way, a label table below said track-way, said table slanting upward and toward the upper end of said track-way and supported by upward swinging links, a lever with one end bearing upward against the lower side of said table, said lever fulcrumed intermediate the ends thereof, a weight on the opposite end of said lever whereby said table is yieldingly lifted, a label bed on said table, said label bed ar ranged to hold labels in an angular pile, a roller to regulate the upward movement of said bed, and an adjustable end rest arranged to contact with the lower end of said labels on an acute angle to the upper surface of said table whereby the upper edge of said labels are held to form an acute angle to the surface of the lower portion of said tracleway.

12. The combination of, an inclined trackway, a label bed below said track-way, a paste applier between said label bed and the upper end of said track-way, a paste vessel between said label bed and the lower end of said track-way, flanges on the ends of said paste vessel, guides under said track-way, said flanges eX- tending into and resting in said guides and supporting said paste vessel, a paste applier in said vessel, said paste applier comprising roller with pins projecting therefrom, said pins arranged to apply paste to parcels, and a spring arranged to lock said paste applier after each application of paste to a parcel.

13. The combination of, an inclined tracle way, a label bed below said. track-way, a paste applier between said label bed and the upper end of said track-way, a paste veslaterally extending sel between said label bed and the lower end of said track-way, a cylindrical paste applier in said vessel, pins projecting from said cylindrical paste applier, and a lock spring successively enga ing said pins whereby a parcel may contact with said pins paste applier and the lower end of said track-way, said brush supported by a vertically slotted frame, and said brush adjust able along said track-way.

The combination of, an inclined trackway, means spread along said traclcway to apply paste and labels to parcels, and an automatic pendulum check cushion near the lower end of said traeleway.

- 16. The combination of, an inclined trackway, means spread along said track-way to apply paste and labels to parcels, and a pen dulum check cushion near the lower end of said track-way, said stop cushion adjustable vertically and along said track-way.

17. The combination of, an inclined trackway, means spread along said track-way to apply paste and labels to parcels, a pendulum check cushion near the lower end of said track-way, said check cushion adjustable vertically, and means to adjust the position of said cushion along said track-way.

18. The combination of, an inclined track way, adjustable means spread along and below said track-way constructed to apply paste and labels to parcels as said parcels descend said track-way, and frames extending upward from said track-way, said frames supporting a Windlass a stop cushion and brushes, said frames arched outward to one side to allow parcels with long projecting ends to descend said track-way.

In testimony whereof ll atliX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR B. AINSWORTHv \Vitnesses CnAnLorrn Hnnnnionson, WILLIAM L. L. VVATTs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

